Besides, they'll probably be brought back with Monster Reborn or something anyway.
Jonouchi wants to know what that painting of Shadi is doing in this castle, but Yami and Bakura are silent, because how the fuck are THEY supposed to know? Bakura doesn't even know who Shadi is, saying he looks a bit Egyptian. How do you figure he looks specifically EGYPTIAN? How does one identify another's NATIONALITY from a picture? Stop being dumb, Bakura.
Yami says that Shadi also possesses a Millennium Item, which seems to come as a shock to Bakura despite the fact that you can clearly see said item in the picture. Anzu has to point out to him that the gigantic, gaudy Ankh-key hanging around his neck IS the Millennium Item, and has the power to get him into people's minds to control them. Bakura contemplates this new item with awe.
Anzu says that just thinking about that night gives her chills, because Shadi almost murdered her face, as well as taking control of her, of which Jonouchi reminds her. He turns to Bakura and lets him know that Shadi was just like the spirit of his ring in that he wanted to find out the secret of Yuugi's puzzle, if Bakura doesn't mind him bringing it up. Bakura assures him that he won't let the spirit of the ring take over his mind anymore, which had nothing to do with what Jonouchi was saying, but okay, Bakura.
He thinks that this picture proves his hypothesis that this island holds the secret of the Millennium Items, and Yami agrees that it does seem to look that way. At the very least, Yami says that Pegasus's Millennium Eye has to have something to do with Shadi, and his Millennium Puzzle as well. However, he's still under the impression that his puzzle isn't part of what made Pegasus call him to the island, believing that Pegasus still wants to defeat him as well as Kaiba for the purpose of taking over Kaiba Corp alone. Whatever helps you sleep at night, honey.
Mr. Croquet decides to step forward and tell them that the portraits were painted by Pegasus himself, but Pegasus doesn't like to discuss them, so they shouldn't expect an explanation. That's how I KNOW they're going to get an explanation at some point. Yami glares as Croquet directs them to their seats, telling them that their soup will get cold if they continue to admire Pegasus's art. Jonouchi had forgotten about the food, which only shows how much of a traumatizing shitbird Shadi was to make him do so. He saunters over to the table to take his seat.
Mai encourages them to sit too, because she's been waiting politely for them to join her at the table before starting her own meal. Jonouchi apologizes, his bad for being reminded of past trauma. Croquet directs Jonouchi and Yami to specific seats, looking around to see if the last one, Mr. Keith, has arrived yet. Not seeing him, he shrugs it off and welcomes them to eat and celebrate on behalf of Pegasus. Jonouchi seconds that blessing, and they all start to dig in.
Well, all except Honda, who stares at his bowl contemplatively. Yami and Jonouchi notice this quickly, and Jonouchi asks what's wrong. Honda looks up and asks if Yami can save the Kaiba brothers. Yami doesn't look at all surprised by this question, but Anzu and Jonouchi stare with their mouths agape at Honda. Honda begins to explain that even though the things they did to them were sickening, he still owes Mokuba for saving his life back there in Death-T. Yami thinks Honda's name, glaring in his usual way.
Jonouchi scoffs, leaning his head on his hand and saying that the Kaiba brothers got what they deserved, so there's no need to help them. Honda shouts that Kaiba was fighting to save his little brother, and asks if that doesn't remind Jonouchi of someone. It's YOU, Jonouchi, fighting for your sister. Jonouchi doesn't say anything, but frowns across the table as Honda continues, reminding him (and me, unfortunately) of his weird and bratty nephew whom he would still protect if he had to, no matter what.
Bakura admits he knows nothing about Death-T or what Kaiba did to his friends, having never met him before getting to the island, and also that Kaiba seems arrogant, selfish and difficult to get close to. Still, he thinks if Kaiba risked his life to save Mokuba, he can't be ALL bad. Jonouchi shouts that Bakura doesn't know what Kaiba is REALLY like, and Bakura holds up his hands in apology. Yami busts in on their argument to say that if Kaiba and Mokuba's souls can be broken out from the cards Pegasus sealed them inside, there's a chance. Honda smiles gratefully at him, though Yami further elaborates that he can only help free their souls, and can't do anything if their bodies are also locked up somewhere. Honda silently tells Yami to leave retrieving their bodies to him, and concentrate on saving Kaiba SOULS.
Yami thinks that though he and Kaiba may be enemies forever, he promises to save him and Mokuba, without fail.
Pegasus greets them jovially and asks them how they like his favorite soup. That depends on what the favorite part of the soup is. Eye or broth? Yami does NOT look amused as he glares at Pegasus's screen. Jonouchi sarcastically thanks Pegasus for the meal while holding up the little Millennium Eye replica, and then starts ranting about how he knew it was poison as well as how they ALWAYS say it isn't poison. One day Jonouchi will learn not to eat shit that his enemies offer him, huh?
Pegasus acts like he's only just remembered that he put those there, and informs them the eyes are part of the main dish. He calls it "The Heart-Pounding Tournament Entree Bingo Game", most of the mouthful of a name Mai leaves out when she's repeating it in indignant disbelief. While noting that ONE of his finalists isn't there, all of them should have received a replica Millennium Eye. He says "Millennium Eye" regardless of the fact Mai wouldn't know what the fuck that even means, given she's not far enough in the cozy main-character-fold to be in on that information. She doesn't bother to ask what he's talking about in favor of the comic focusing on Jonouchi's disturbed face as he holds up HIS replica eye. HILARIOUS.
Their host instructs them to crack open their replica eyes like a plastic Easter egg, Jonouchi expressing some surprise that they come apart as he finds the seam and pops his open. He finds a piece of paper inside with the letter "D" written on it. Mai says that hers says "B", and Yami looks at his paper with "A" written on it. Pegasus's screen switches to a diagram matching up the letters in the order of play for the following day, A and B dueling, C and D doing the same, the winners from those dueling each other, leaving the winner of THAT duel free to face Pegasus.
Mai rests the tips of her index and middle fingers on her lips and winks when she says that she gets to face Yami in the first round. I guess she's not curious about Pegasus's unfamiliar terminology because she too does stupid inexplicable things. Yami doesn't say anything while he glares, arms crossed. Jonouchi shouts that he's been waiting for a match with Bandit Keith anyway, and he's prepared to accept it.
Pegasus announces that this is it, because the soup doesn't lie. The soup... doesn't lie... I think I found a character I want to punch even more than Seto Kaiba, just from that one line. He disappears off the screen, bidding them a plus tard, and his image is replaced by a nice landscape picture. Croquet tells them shortly thereafter that it's about time to call it a night and offers to show them all to their rooms. Jonouchi pisses and moans that they only get soup for dinner, which is certainly a fair complaint, but my question is whether or not the stowaways will get rooms too, or will have to sleep out in the parlor. After all, there weren't rooms for all of the duelists in the tournament on the way to the island.
Bakura stands and asks Yami if he can have his Millennium Eye replica. Not sure if he ever got it, because the next panel shows him still sitting with his arms crossed as Mai cheerily asks for a fair fight tomorrow. Yami smiles and agrees, Jonouchi watching her wave to them as she leaves the room. He's wearing a kind of weird face while he does so, too.
Jonouchi declares that it's about time they all get some sleep too, but how much you want to bet he's just ready to retire for some private masturbation time?
Croquet leads them down a hallway toward their rooms, and Bandit Keith is shown lurking around a corner in the foreground. It looks like the stowaways DO get their own rooms, because Honda and Bakura are shown entering separate doors while they wish the rest of their friends goodnight. Jonouchi looks at another door, guessing it's his room, and turns to Yami as he's opening it. He wants to get those honors with Yami tomorrow, and Yami smiles, agreeing. Jonouchi says a short goodbye, and Anzu bids him good evening.
Anzu heads toward another door and opens it, telling Yami to have a good night as well. He repeats the sentiments to her, but she pauses a moment later to plead with him to win the next day. Yami winks at her, assuring her that he will.
But the night isn't over yet, at least not for SOME people.
He's not the only one wandering around, either.
And last, but certainly not least...
Yami glares up at the sky while he holds his card deck, then looks down at it contemplatively. There's only one more step to get within reach of Pegasus and the power of his Millennium Eye. He has to admit he STILL hasn't thought of a way to overcome that little obstacle, but his strategy as of yet will just have to be trusting those cards clutched in his fist. Staring out over the horizon, he vows once again that he'll save his grandfather and defeat Pegasus.
Meanwhile...
So, what did I think of this chapter overall? The characters' discovery of Shadi's portrait was very well-done. Having such a history with Shadi makes their focus on the portrait MORE than understandable. Now that they're facing another individual who holds a Millennium Item, and can confirm a connection between them. Of course, they can't say WHAT that connection is quite yet, and Yami's being particularly dense by holding stubbornly onto the idea that he's only there because Pegasus wants Kaiba's company, but it's still a handy little reveal to the characters anyway to make them stop to discuss the peculiarity of their new enemy having something in common with the protagonist.
I also think it's interesting that during this exchange, Bakura was genuinely without a clue on who Shadi was and what his introduction to the other characters was, and that was contrasted with Other Bakura showing recognition for Shadi under his portrait at the end of the chapter. Shadi and the ring have clearly crossed paths before, and long before Bakura got a hold of it as well. It raises the question of when, and under what circumstances, just as much as the question of what the connection between Shadi and Pegasus is.
Another question this raises is how Bakura let the spirit of the ring take him over YET AGAIN when he had no good reason to be wearing that fucking ring anymore. Take it off and keep it off, you douchenozzle!
So, here's what happens here in the anime. Sometime after Kaiba's duel with Pegasus, everyone goes to dinner. Since Death-T hasn't happened, there is no discussion about saving the Kaiba Brothers. Similarly, no one knows who Shadi is, so there's no conversation about him either. Off to a good start.
ReplyDeleteThe scene of the eyeballs in the soup is removed, for some reason, but whatever. At any rate, what then happens is as follows.
- Yugi: Atem does not come out. Yugi is having a dream about Sugoroku, Kaiba, and Mokuba showing up (as cards) and telling him to beware of Pegasus. As if he didn't know that already?
- Joey: Joey sleeps through the whole episode. Keith somehow breaks into his room and steals his card before presumably going to sleep himself.
- Honda/Anzu/Bakura: By far the most baffling and nonsensical change. Honda is convinced that Pegasus has been cheating (no shit) in his duel and must have spy cameras set up around the duel field. Despite the fact that they've already seen multiple instances of Yugi killing people with magic? And also the whole incident with Bakura? I don't think Yugi has ever even withheld the information about the Millennium Eye! Honda and Co. proceed to go around looking for spy cameras, only to run into Pegasus. Pegasus then sends them to some... alternate dimension or something, wherein he and several other hooded people are engaging in some kind of Satanic ritual to power up the Millennium Eye. The logistics of this are never explained. Pegasus then tries to kill Honda and Co. despite having the opportunity to do so early, when suddenly Yami Bakura emerges and uses the power of the Millennium Ring to retcon everything that happened here and make everyone forget about it. Just... what the fuck?
I don't know why they would remove the eyeball thing either, because I would have LOVED that as a kid. Would have tickled me pink. But Keith getting into the room quietly and stealing the card from Jonouchi without being detected makes sense, considering the scene of him getting caught in the next chapter is rather violent. I can see why they would take that out in aiming for a younger demographic.
DeleteAs for that whole mess with Honda, Anzu and Bakura... They must have been smoking the GOOD shit when they wrote that, lol! Sounds like it should be from a different show altogether.